Stuffing-box follower.



W. H. ONEIL.

STUFFING BOX FOLLOWER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29. 1913. RENEWED 11ov.14.1914.

Patented June 22, 1915.

YHE NGRRIS PETERS 1:1344 PHOm-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

WILLIAM H. ONEIL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

STUFFING--BOX FOLLOWER.

Maasai.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 22, 19115.

Application led November 29, 1913, Serial No. 803,805. Renewed November 14, 1914. Serial No. 872,262.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that l, WILLIAM H. ONEIL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Stu'liingBox Follower, of which the following is a specification.

rThis invention is adapted for use in various situations and is more particularly d esigned for use to compress the packing in stufling boxes of deep well pumps for pumping oil wells. In such pumps the stufling box is employed to prevent escape of oil and gas around the polished rod of the pump, and it is liable to great wear on account of the sand carried by the oil so that it is frequently necessary to repack the stuffing box. It is necessary that said stuffing box shall have a follower by means of which the packing of the stufling box may be firmly and evenly compressed.

An object of the invention is` to provide a follower that can be quickly and easily applied and removed and which, when pressure is applied to the same, will evenly and firmly compress the packing in the gland.

The invention may be embodied in various forms. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure l is an axial section of two followers constructed in accordance with this invention and applied in a stufling box on a polished rod of a pump. One of the followers is in section on line al, Fig. 2 and the other is in section on line b1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of the same on line m2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the barrel and band forming the follower; the band being raised from its seat. Fig. l is a plan view of the barrel of the follower shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan of the follower with the band in place. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one segment of the band detached. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one segment of the barrel detached.

The barrel a of the follower is formed of members of identical shape, said members being concave cylindric segments, each seg ment comprising a body 1 having at one end a reduced terminal 2, resembling the male member of a spigot joint, and provided on its opposite edges with complementary edge joint members comprising a tongue 3 on one edge and a groove et on the other edge, said tongue and groove being of equal lengths and each being of less length than the edge to which it pertains, so that when the two segments are joined with their edges together they will form a complete hollow cylinder and cannot be relatively displaced axially so long as the joint edges are held together, said cylindric segments being thus jointed together allow relative lateral, and prevent relative axial displacement of each other.

It is understood that any form of joint that can be united and separated by moving the segments toward and from each other at right angles to the axes of the segments, and that will practically prevent relative axial movement of the segments when joined will serve the purpose, and that the invention is not limited to the specific form of joint shown.

Each cylindric segment is provided with an external seat 5 formed in its convex periphery, so that when two segments are placed together the barrel a thus formed will be provided with two symmetrically disposed seats adjoining the reduced portions 2 and having rounded lower ends t0- ward which the sides of the seats are inclined. A separable band is provided to encircle the reduced portions 2 and to thus hold the barrel segments l together. Said band is formed of two segmental members that are identical in construction, each having two similar teeth G, the edges 7 of which at the ends of the segments are arranged to fit together, and the contours 8 of which teeth opposite the joint-forming edges 7 conform to and fit in the seats 5.

From the foregoing it is seen that the segments of the barrels a interlock with the seg ments of the band Z) and that the barrel and band thus engage with one another and mutually prevent radial displacement of the various segments.

The exteriors of the band segments are smooth and cylindric being extensions of the cylindric main body of the barrel segments and its breaking joints therewith; each band segment forming a tie across one of the barrel joints to prevent lateral or radial displacement of the barrel segments relative t0 each other.

The end of the barrel opposite the reduced terminal is conically reamed out to form the frusto-conical packing chamber 10 to receive and compressl the upper end oi the packing 11 within the stuling box case 12.

Each of the seats 5 is provided with a lateral extension 13 undercutting a shoulder 14 under which a packing hook, not shown, may be inserted to engage the barrel segments a for the purpose of pulling the same Vout of the case 12.

I claim:

1. A stuiing-box follower comprising main cylindric segments jointed together to prevent relative axial, and to allow relative lateral, displacement of each other; each of said segments being provided with a reduced terminal, and with a seat adjoining such reduced terminal; and a segmental band to encircle the terminals; the segments of said band being provided at their ends with teeth to fit the seats of said main eylindric segments to prevent relative lateral and rotative displacement of said main cylindric segments.

2. A stuifmg box follower comprising main cylindric segments, each of said main cylindrie segments being provided with a reduced terminal, and with a seat adjoining such reduced terminal; and a segmental band to 'encircle the terminals; the segments of said band being provided at their ends with teeth to fit the seats of said main cylindrie segments to prevent relative lateral and rotative displacement of the main cylindric segments.

3. A stuffing box follower comprising main cylindric segments jointed together to prevent relative axial and to allow relative lateral displacement of each other, and a segmental band to encircle said main cylindric segments, each of the segments of said band securing two meeting edges of two `main cylindric segments against lateral and rotative displacement.`

4L. A stuiiing box follower comprising main cylindric segments, each of said main cylindric segments being provided with a reduced terminal, and with a seat adjoining such reduced terminal; and a segmental band to encircle the terminals; the segments of said band being provided at their ends with teeth to fit the seats of said main eylindric segments to prevent relative lateral and rotative displacement of said main cylindric Segments, and lateral extensions at the bottom of the seats of said cylindric segments in which a packing hook maj7 be inserted to engage and remove said cylindrie segments.

5. In a stutling box the combination ot an inner and outer follower, said followers comprising main cylindrie segments, each of said segments being provided with a reduced terminal, and with a. seat adjoining such reduced terminal; and a segmental band to encircle the terminals, the segments of said band being provided at their ends with teeth to lit the seats of said main cylindric segments to prevent relative lateral and rotative displacement of said cylindric segments; said outer follower' having a rusto-conieal recess provided at its inner end to receive the upper end of the packing of the stuliing box.

(i. A stul'ling box followercomprisingmain cylindrie segments, each of said main c vlindric segments being provided with a reduced terminal and with a seat adjoining said reduced terminal and having a rounded end, the sides of such seat being inclined toward its rounded end; and a segmental band to encircle said reduced terminals; the segments of said band being provided at their ends with teeth conforming to the shape ot the seats of said main cylindrie segments so as to fit into said seats to prevent relative lateral and rotative displacement ot said cylindrie segments.

7. In combination, a barrel composed ot segments, and a band composed oi' segments, said barrel and band engaging one another and mutually preventing radial displacement of said segments.

8. In combination, a barrel composed oi segments, means to prevent axial displacement oi' said segments, and a band composed of segments, the segments oi the barrel interlocking with the segments of the band to prevent lateral displacement of said segments.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 20th day oi November, 1913.

WILLIAM H. ONEIL.

In presence of- JAMEs It. TowNsEND, L. BELLE VEAVER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

